Sparked by shared experiences as women in politics and as participants in Next25’s Leadership course for parliamentarians, four NSW women MPs have united across party lines, to create an initiative aimed at transforming the parliamentary experience for women. We are thrilled to see the flow-on effects of our Leadership course making a positive impact on the system.
Next25 has been working with Helen Dalton MP (Independent NSW), Jenny Leong MP (Greens NSW), Liesl Tesch MP (NSW Labor), and Leslie Williams MP (Liberal Party NSW) to craft an initiative for NSW women parliamentarians.
The program launch coincides with the damning findings from the Human Rights Commission’s Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, and Elizabeth Broderick’s Independent Review into bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct in NSW Parliament.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams MP said that while this initiative was already in the works before the report findings were released, the timing feels ripe with opportunity for positive change.
“More than just professional development that bolsters capability, this initiative is designed to empower and enable us to improve the political system itself,” Ms Williams said.
NSW women parliamentarians are set to join the group in November for part one, a two-day program run by facilitators from Next25 and Corporate Evolution. Next25 will then support the women after the two-day program as they further ideate and test potential solutions that emerge as a result of the collective process.
The program supports women MPs to build their leadership capability and take collective action to improve NSW parliament. The four women who sparked the initiative know first-hand the impact this kind of work can have.
Next25’s Director of Programs and Engagement, Chloë Spackman, said the group’s shared experience in Next25’s Leadership course brought them together in 2019 and 2020, despite their party allegiances.
“Our Leadership course saw them reconnect to their values and harness their power, not only as individuals in the political system, but as individuals who can improve the system. Now, they are ready to take those learnings to make positive change for women in NSW parliament, and we are delighted to be part of the initiative” Ms Spackman said.
Jenny Leong MP said so much about being an MP is reacting to external forces and moving quickly from issue to issue, meeting to meeting, or campaign to campaign.
“This initiative will help create the space to consider the bigger picture – and enable us to focus on the contribution we can collectively make, to strengthen our democracy, contribute to our communities, and improve things for generations of women to come,” Ms Leong said.
Ms Spackman said the work by NSW women parliamentarians will hopefully serve as a blueprint for improvement in other Australian parliaments, including for other marginalised and / or underrepresented groups.
“The success of this initiative can provide a beacon of possibility for the Australian public, who are frustrated by the treatment of women in the political sphere,” Ms Spackman said.
When asked why this is an all-women’s initiative, Ms Spackman explained that this two-day program is a starting point for transforming democracy for all.
“The intention is to bring the whole political system along in the concrete actions that follow the program. But first, the initiative ensures women parliamentarians have the opportunity to build new, trusting relationships and create space for honest and vulnerable discussion” Ms Spackman said.
Registrations for the two-day program on 11-12 November are still open to all women NSW parliamentarians.
The more NSW women MPs participate in this initiative, the greater impact it will have on the political system at large and on our communities. You can help make this initiative a success by letting women MPs from NSW know that you support a more inclusive parliament and encourage them to take part by emailing them this brochure.